Of course, the thought is preposterous - what with players such as Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning and, of course, Peyton Manning poised to run away with the yearly popularity contest - and given the fact that usually it's a quarterback that gets the hardware, it's tough to see a big ugly galoot like Gronkowski getting much consideration...
...and besides, the Patriots have a quarterback of their own that would warrant a look if they dominated the AFC in spite of their attrition and injury issues.
While awaiting the return of the chosen one, Tom Brady had the opportunity to prove that he was what drove this offense, that he was that rare individual who made everyone around him better, a certain criteria for being considered the Greatest of all time and not just a product of the system - handicapped, of course, by inexperienced but talented rookies as his primary targets.
Tom Brady has been the undisputed MVP of the Patriots for as long as he's been under center, but it is yet to be determined whether the man that many consider the greatest quarterback of all time has grasped his mentoring role to it's full fruition - but has there been a more anticipated return to action in team history than what Patriots' fans have witnessed this season in the soap opera that has been Gronkowski?
And with his return being as successful as anyone could have hoped, is there at least a consideration for the talented beast to be the most valuable player to his team in 2013?
Madness, madness - and as we already know, the Patriots players don't think about individual accolades, at least not publicly, and are focused on winning football games. But given the hardships and the beatings the team has taken from the uninitiated and closed-minded media, they must be careful of playing with too big a chip on their shoulder, lest they lose focus on the goal....
...which should be running the football down the Dolphins' collective throat.
The Patriots' stable of running backs are collectively perhaps the most diverse in the league. Lead back Stevan Ridley has an explosive style that finds him in the second level quickly, while LeGarrette Blount is the pinball bumper that tacklers bounce off of when trying to pick up the tough short yardage. Brandon Bolden is the impromptu third down back that runs hard, but can't seem to haul in passes.
The solution to this is, of course, the return of Shane Vereen - which won't happen for a few weeks yet, so the subject is inconsequential for this meeting with the Dolphins, but could play a huge role when the teams meet in December.
In the Patriots two losses this season, they have wilted in the face of two of the NFL's best run stop units - strictly due to the coaching staff curiously abandoning the running game despite early success. The results were predictable, Brady taking a public flogging because the defense has pinned it's ears back and come after him, not having to respect the run.
If they do that against the Dolphins, Brady will have more to worry about than a sore shoulder on the injury report.
The biggest chips on the Patriots' collective shoulder belongs to the offensive line, who have been maligned in recent weeks for the woes of the offense, yet it is the lack of balance on offense that has been primarily to blame for New England dropping two of their last three games against teams that should have easily outscored.
Part of what made the Dolphins a trendy pick to unseat the Patriots in the AFC East was their acquisitions of the defensive side of the ball, yet the expectations came back to earth for Miami once it was realized that big names don't mean a whole lot if they don't fit the scheme - case in point, the Dolphins traded up to the third pick in the 2013 draft when everyone thought they would select one of the franchise left tackles available...
...yet the pick was an injured and very raw defensive end Dion Jordan out of Oregon - curious because Jordan is more of a 3-4 end that has yet to unseat incumbent end Oliver Vernon in Miami's 4-3 scheme - but in all fairness, Oliver is having the best season of any Miami lineman, registering 3.5 sacks and 15 tackles lined up over the opposition's left tackle.
Cameron Wake on the other side has been dinged up, logging 2.5 sacks in limited snaps while old pros Randy Starks and Paul Soliai anchor the interior to form an impressive defensive line that has yielded less than four yards per carry on the year, and have the athleticism to stop plays in the backfield before they even get started.
The rush defense is also aided by the fact that they are fortified by a set of veteran linebackers that' individually, can play it any way you want it - but together are still looking to find the chemistry that the team lost in bringing in all new faces. Be that as it may, Daniel Ellerbe, Phillip Wheeler and Koa Misi all are among the team leaders in rush tackles, but are having difficulty reaching the quarterback.
In coverage, the Dolphins are all about limiting the big play, and will probably be most concerned with limiting Gronkowski. Safety Reshad Jones will probably pick up the assignment, but talk around the horn suggests that Jordan, with his athleticism and linebacker-like coverage skills could be employed as well - but what's going to make that an even tougher task is if receiver Danny Amendola returns from a concussion this week.
As much of a different offense as the Patriots can field with Gronkowski out there, Amendola's presence makes that doubly difficult for opposing defenses. Both have sure hands and both work the intermediate zones and the high seam to perfection, and if the Dolphins have to double up on one or both, Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson could have a huge game on the outside.
The Dolphins' secondary really doesn't scare anyone, but are capable defenders when the front seven can stop the running game and force the opposition to throw - but with Gronkowski and Amendola on the field together, it may not make any difference.
In the end, if the Patriots can establish balance - whether that be by running to set up the play action, or by going deep seam to set up the run - they can score points on this defense, perhaps many points.
Balance is key. Balance eases some of the pressure off of the maligned offensive line, gives Brady that all important extra split-second to get the ball out of his hand and causes big gaps for the running backs to sprint through - and with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels more or less acknowledging such, by being patient and sticking with their bread and butter, New England can dominate the Dolphins...
...if not, well, the race in the AFC East gets a little tighter. Up to you, McDaniels. You have the horses, but it's up to you to put them in position to succeed.
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